So far it's only been the manufacturers, such as Apple, which have screened any apps for potential wrongdoings, but the Food and Drug Administration has decided to step in and regulate any app that offers medical or health guidance.

Lists of numbers are hard to remember and boring like a 36 volt drill. So Withings takes dull…
Read more Read more

While the FDA doesn't want to scare off any would-be app developers (they said in their statement that they encourage "the development of new apps), they do want "input on its proposed oversight approach for certain mobile applications specific to medicine or healthcare called mobile medical applications ('apps') that are designed for use on smartphones and other mobile computing devices."

Advertisement

Many apps, like the one from Withings, use peripherals to monitor the user's vitalities, and the FDA is particularly keen to inspect those. Developers, or just interested parties, can contact the FDA before they come to a decision about their involvement with health apps on this address: Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. [FDA via LA Times]